Sensor Faucet

ABSTRACT

A sensor faucet includes: a housing; a water output unit, a water input unit, an electromagnetic valve and a controller disposed in the housing; and first and second sensors mounted to the housing. The electromagnetic valve is coupled between the water input and output units for controlling fluid communication therebetween. Each of the first and second sensors senses an object in proximity thereto, and generates a respective one of first and second sensing signals. The controller controls, based on the first sensing signal, an indication of a state indicator between active and inactive states, and controls, based on the state indicator and the first and second sensing signals, activation and deactivation of the electromagnetic valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 103204892, filed on Mar. 21, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a faucet, and more particularly to a sensor faucet.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional sensor faucet includes a sensor and an electromagnetic valve. The sensor uses infrared sensing techniques to sense an object (e.g., a hand of a user) in proximity thereto. Upon sensing an object in proximity thereto, the sensor activates the electromagnetic valve so as to allow outflow of water from the conventional sensor faucet. Otherwise, i.e., when there is no object in proximity to the sensor, the sensor deactivates the electromagnetic valve so as to prevent outflow of water from the conventional sensor faucet.

Even if outflow of water is not desired, water flows out of the conventional sensor faucet if, for instance, an insect happens to be in proximity to the sensor, or if a kitchenware or even the user is accidentally or unintentionally in proximity to the sensor, thereby resulting in waste of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a sensor faucet that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

According to this invention, a sensor faucet comprises a housing, a water output unit, a water input unit, an electromagnetic valve, first and second sensors and a controller. The water output unit is disposed in the housing. The water input unit is disposed in the housing. The electromagnetic valve is disposed in the housing, and is coupled between the water output unit and the water input unit for permitting fluid communication between the water output unit and the water input unit when activated, and for preventing fluid communication between the water output unit and the water input unit when deactivated. The first sensor is mounted to the housing, is capable of sensing an object in proximity thereto, and generates a first sensing signal. The second sensor is mounted to the housing, is capable of sensing an object in proximity thereto, and generates a second sensing signal. The controller is disposed in the housing, is coupled to the first and second sensors and the electromagnetic valve, and receives the first and second sensing signals respectively from the first and second sensors. The controller controls, based on the first sensing signal, an indication of a state indicator between an inactive state and an active state, and generates a control signal based on the indication of the state indicator and the first and second sensing signals to control activation and deactivation of the electromagnetic valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a sensor faucet according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of the preferred embodiment in use;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating electric components of the preferred embodiment; and

FIGS. 4 to 6 are timing diagrams illustrating operation of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of a sensor faucet according to this invention includes a housing 1, a water output unit 2, a water input unit 3, an electromagnetic valve 4, first and second sensors 5, 6, a controller 7 and a battery 8.

The housing 1 has a spout 11.

The water output unit 2 is disposed in the housing 1, and has a first end coupled to the spout 11, and a second end.

The water input unit 3 is disposed in the housing 1. In this embodiment, the water input unit 3 includes a mixing valve 31, a cold water input conduit 32 which is coupled to the mixing valve 31 and into which cold water flows, and a hot water input conduit 33 which is coupled to the mixing valve 31 and into which hot water flows. The mixing valve 31 mixes the cold water from the cold water input conduit 32 and the hot water from the hot water input conduit 33, and outputs mixed water. In other embodiments, the water input unit 3 may only include the cold water input conduit 32.

The electromagnetic valve 4 is disposed in the housing 1, and is coupled between the second end of the water output unit 2 and the mixing valve 31 of the water input unit 3 for controlling fluid communication between the water output unit 2 and the water input unit 3. During activation of the electromagnetic valve 4, the water output unit 2 and the water input unit 3 are in fluid communication with each other, such that the mixed water from the mixing valve 31 is allowed to flow through the water output unit 2 and the spout 11 to outside of the sensor faucet. During deactivation of the electromagnetic valve 4, the water output unit 2 and the water input unit 3 are not in fluid communication with each other, such that the mixed water from the mixing valve 31 is prevented from flowing through the water output unit 2 and the spout 11 to outside of the sensor faucet.

The first sensor 5 is mounted to the housing 1, is able to sense an object (not shown) in proximity thereto, and generates a first sensing signal. The second sensor 6 is mounted to the housing 1, is able to sense an object (not shown) in proximity thereto, and generates a second sensing signal. The first sensor 5 has a sensing direction different from that of the second sensor 6. In this embodiment, the first sensor 5 is disposed near the top of the housing 1, the sensing direction of the first sensor 5 is substantially toward one side with respect to the housing 1, the second sensor 6 is disposed near the bottom of the housing 1, and the sensing direction of the second sensor 6 is substantially forward with respect to the housing 1. It is noted herein that the sensing direction of the first sensor 5 may be sideways, sideways and upward, rearward, rearward and upward with respect to the housing 1, while the sensing direction of the second sensor 6 may as well be forward and downward.

The controller 7 is disposed in the housing 1, is coupled to the first and second sensors 5, 6 and the electromagnetic valve 4, and receives the first and second sensing signals respectively from the first and second sensors 5, 6. The controller 7 controls, based on the first sensing signal, an indication of a state indicator (see FIG. 3) to be one of an inactive state and an active state, and generates a control signal, based on the indication of the state indicator and the first and second sensing signals, in order to control the activation and the deactivation of the electromagnetic valve 4.

FIGS. 4 to 6 depict the indication of the state indicator, the first and second sensing signals and the control signal, where the first sensing signal switches between a high level indicating that an object is sensed by the first sensor 5 to be in proximity thereto, and a low level indicating that no object is sensed by the first sensor 5, where the second sensing signal switches between a high level indicating that an object is sensed by the second sensor 6 to be in proximity thereto, and a low level indicating that no object is sensed by the second sensor 6, and where the control signal switches between a high level corresponding to the activation of the electromagnetic valve 4, and a low level corresponding to the deactivation of the electromagnetic valve 4.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, based on the first sensing signal, the controller 7 changes the indication of the state indicator whenever an object is sensed to be in proximity to the first sensor 5 for less than a first predetermined time period (T1), e.g., 3 seconds. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, based on the state indicator and the first and second sensing signals, the controller 7 performs the following: when the first sensing signal is at the high level for at least the first predetermined time period (T1), i.e., when an object is sensed to be in proximity to the first sensor 5 for at least the first predetermined time period (T1), switching the control signal to the high level for a second predetermined time period (T2), e.g., 60 seconds, so as to activate the electromagnetic valve 4 for the second predetermined time period (T2); when the state indicator is in the active state and when the second sensing signal is at the high level (i.e., when an object is sensed to be in proximity to the second sensor 6), switching the control signal to the high level for the duration that the second sensing signal remains at the high level; and otherwise, switching the control signal to the low level to deactivate the electromagnetic valve 4.

In application, when the state indicator indicates the inactive state, a user may put his hand in proximity to the first sensor 5 for less than 3 seconds, such that the state indicator is switched to indicate the active state. When the state indicator indicates the active state, the user may put his hand in proximity to the first sensor 5 for less than 3 seconds, such that the state indicator is switched to indicate the inactive state. No matter which one of the inactive state and the active state the state indicator indicates, the user may put his hand in proximity to the first sensor 5 for at least 3 seconds to activate the electromagnetic valve 4 such that the mixed water flows out of the spout 11 of the housing 1 for 60 seconds. When the state indicator indicates the active state, the user may put his hand in proximity to the second sensor 6 to activate the electromagnetic valve 4 for as long as the hand of the user remains in proximity to the second sensor 6. When the state indicator indicates the inactive state, the electromagnetic valve 4 is not activated even if the user puts his hand in proximity to the second sensor 6.

The battery 8 is disposed in the housing 1, and is coupled to the electromagnetic valve 4 and the controller 7 for supplying electricity thereto.

In view of the above, since the controller 7 switches the indication of the state indicator based on the first sensing signal from the first sensor 5, and generates the control signal for controlling activation/deactivation of the electromagnetic valve 4 based on the indication of the state indicator and the first and second sensing signals, when the user does not want to use water, possibility of outflow of water from the sensor faucet of this embodiment due to accidental or unintentional approach of an object (e.g., an insect, a kitchenware, or even the user) is reduced as compared to the conventional sensor faucet.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sensor faucet comprising: a housing; a water output unit disposed in said housing; a water input unit disposed in said housing; an electromagnetic valve disposed in said housing, coupled between said water output unit and said water input unit, permitting fluid communication between said water output unit and said water input unit when activated, and preventing fluid communication between said water output unit and said water input unit when deactivated; a first sensor mounted to said housing, capable of sensing an object in proximity thereto, and generating a first sensing signal; a second sensor mounted to said housing, capable of sensing an object in proximity thereto, and generating a second sensing signal; and a controller disposed in said housing, coupled to said first and second sensors and said electromagnetic valve, and receiving the first and second sensing signals respectively from said first and second sensors, said controller controlling, based on the first sensing signal, an indication of a state indicator between an inactive state and an active state, and generating a control signal, based on the indication of the state indicator and the first and second sensing signals, to control activation and deactivation of said electromagnetic valve.
 2. The sensor faucet of claim 1, wherein said controller switches the indication of the state indicator when an object is sensed by said first sensor to be in proximity thereto for less than a first predetermined time period.
 3. The sensor faucet of claim 2, wherein the control signal generated by said controller activates said electromagnetic valve for a second predetermined time period when an object is sensed by said first sensor to be in proximity thereto for at least the first predetermined time period.
 4. The sensor faucet of claim 3, wherein the control signal generated by said controller activates said electromagnetic valve when the state indicator indicates the active state and when an object is sensed by said second sensor to be in proximity thereto.
 5. The sensor faucet of claim 1, wherein said first sensor has a sensing direction different from that of said second sensor.
 6. The sensor faucet of claim 1, wherein said water input unit includes a mixing valve coupled to said electromagnetic valve, a cold water input conduit coupled to said mixing valve, and a hot water input conduit coupled to said mixing valve.
 7. The sensor faucet of claim 1, further comprising a battery that is disposed in said housing and that is coupled to said electromagnetic valve and said controller for supplying electricity thereto. 